---
layout: docs
page_title: nomad var purge reference
description: |-
  The `nomad var purge` command permanently removes the specified variable
  from Nomad.
---

# `nomad var purge` command reference

The `var purge` command permanently deletes an existing [variable][] from Nomad's
variable storage.

## Usage

```plaintext
nomad var purge [options] <path>
```

The `var purge` command requires the path to the variable.

If ACLs are enabled, this command requires a token with the `variables:destroy`
capability for the target variable's namespace and path. See the [ACL policy][]
documentation for details.

## Options

- `-check-index` `(int: <unset>)`: If set, the variable is only acted upon if
  the server-side version's index matches the provided value. When a variable
  specification contains a modify index, that modify index is used as the
  check-index for the check-and-set operation and can be overridden using this
  flag.

## Examples

Purge the variable at the "secret/creds" path.

```shell-session
$ nomad var purge -y secret/creds
Successfully purged variable "secret/creds"!
```

## General options

@include 'general_options.mdx'

[variable]: /nomad/docs/concepts/variables
[ACL Policy]: /nomad/docs/other-specifications/acl-policy#variables
